A call by the University of Limpopo (UL) to embrace traditional and natural product medicines through a discourse on the promotion of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) has been heeded by about 300 scientists from various fields, as well as traditional healers, research councils and government entities
Gathered at the 2nd African Traditional and Natural Product Medicine Conference hosted by UL on 19 – 21 October 2022, medicine practitioners and scholars as well as academics from various institutions shared their expertise on IKS and discussed how South Africa can benefit from this knowledge.
Taking the theme of “Be Brave. Embrace African Traditional Medicines”, the discussionshighlighted significant role played by traditional medicine during Covid-19, and expanded to other health concerns as sub-themes, including, tuberculosis, HIV, cancer, diabetes, hypertension; cannabis in African Traditional Medicines; women’s health and wellness, mental health and well-being.
Opening the Conference on the first day, Executive Dean of Faculty of Science and Agriculture, Prof Hlengani Siweya, said people should understand that the expertise that people have in various disciplines are rooted in the indigenous knowledge systems. “We must embrace African traditional medicines because through them we can research to provide solutions to Africa challenges,” Prof Siweya stated.
According to Conference Chair and a Professor of Chemistry at UL, Prof Winston Nxumalo, the Conference aimed to provide international platforms for participants to present their research and bridge the gap between traditional health practitioners, funding institutions and the private sector. “The Conference encourages medicine practitioners to collaborate in exploring and promoting IKS in South Africa and the African continent,” he explained.
Director of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement at the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Adv Matome Monyepao, presented on environment regulations, particularly when harvesting natural resources. “The Department recognises and supports the continued use of traditional and natural products for medicinal purposes in order for future generations to benefit from the initiative. The world is currently experiencing an unprecedented environmental crisis. The degradation of the Earth’s environment is threatening the natural resource base and processes on which the entire world depends. Without strong and multifaceted action from all of us, the biosphere may become difficult to sustain human life, and future generations will suffer as a result,” Adv Monyepao cautioned.
On the other hand, an IK-Based Healthy Lifestyle Strategy Project Coordinator at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, Prof Nceba Gqaleni, presented on “Conducting Preclinical and Clinical Research on African Traditional Medicines from KwaZulu-Natal: The Journey so far”. He highlighted that the key to moving basic science (discovery) in African traditional medicine is translating the findings to the product development phase, which involves formal pre-clinical and clinical trials.
He explained: “Over the past years, we have embarked on this journey focusing on infectious diseases such as HIV, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and recently Covid-19. We envisage that, upon a successful completion, the products will be registered and placed on the market.”
During a welcome dinner, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Partnerships, Prof Jesika Singh stated that the Conference best translates the vision of UL, which seeks solutions to African challenges. “Indigenous knowledge systems strengthen UL’s position as a world-class African university dedicated to finding African solutions to African challenges within an African context,” she said.
Prof Singh added that the conference provides participants with an international platform to present their research, bridge the gap between traditional health practitioners and researchers, and learn more about government support for traditional medicine research and practice.
By Evans Khalo and Malatji Monyelegwete